The Certified Consulting Meteorologist (CCM) is a professional meteorologist who has an in-depth understanding of the atmosphere and its behavior. Services and products provided by CCMs are founded upon their abilities to apply this specialized knowledge to a broad range of related activities, issues, and inquiries. The essential attribute of the CCM is a specialized knowledge of the field, combined with broad experience, an integrated concept of service, and a clear and unwavering adherence to the rules of professional conduct and service.

The CCM program is a service for business, industry, and the general public provided by the American Meteorological Society (AMS). The AMS has established high standards of technical competence, character, and experience for those who seek to provide advice and consultation in meteorology. The program was established to indicate that individuals who are CCMs have been tested and found to meet or exceed those standards. The principal purpose of the program is to enable users of meteorological services to select consultants with greater confidence in the quality and reliability of the products and services they will receive.

After World War II, several private weather forecasting services began operations. These companies were founded in response to the need by weather-sensitive businesses and industries for weather forecasts and information that were more detailed in time and space than similar information provided by the National Weather Service.

With the growth of these private services, it became apparent that some individuals seeking this business did not have the appropriate professional or educational backgrounds as meteorologists. The AMS recognized the need for a professional certification process to advance the professional ideals within meteorology and to assist business, industry, and the public in identifying qualified individuals with greater confidence in the quality and reliability of the products and services provided. In 1957, the AMS initiated the CCM program. Over the past four decades, in addition to the growth of the private weather service companies, other companies offering a broad range of environmental consulting services have been founded. These companies address the growing recognition on the part of the government, business, industry, and the public, of the need to evaluate and address environmental issues. Many of the environmental issues are related to meteorology and air quality.

The growing importance of these environmental areas, coupled with the passage of the Clean Air Act in 1970 amendments to the act in 1977 and 1990, and the growing need for other specialized weather-related services, has resulted in substantial growth in the environmental consulting industry and in the demand for trained meteorologists. Many of the individuals employed by these consulting firms have applied for certification through the CCM program.

There are currently over 550 CCMs of the AMS, of whom approximately 400 are "active"; over 200 are voluntarily listed in this directory. In the past, the program has principally drawn qualified persons in the private sector who provide weather- and climate-related services. In recent years, increased numbers of applicants have come from industry, government, universities, research institutions, the media, federal laboratories, and state and local agencies.

The Board of Certified Consulting Meteorologists is a standing board of the AMS, responsible for considering applications and making recommendations in regard to certification. The board oversees the program and its members.

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